Settlers throw Molotov cocktails, rocks at forces demolishing illegal West Bank outpost

Extremist settler activists violently attack Civil Administration and Border Police personnel involved in evacuating and demolishing the illegal West Bank outpost of Tzur Harel.

The rioters throw Molotov cocktails at the forces, the Civil Administration says, after having burnt tires and set a vehicle on fire at the entrance to the outpost when the forces arrived to evacuate the site.

The settler activists also stick their legs in concrete as part of their efforts to resist evacuation.

Following the demolition of six makeshift buildings at Tzur Harel during the operation, masked rioters throw rocks down at passing vehicles driving on a nearby road, including those of security personnel.

One rock hits the car of a Civil Administration official, smashing his windscreen.

According to the Civil Administration which runs civil affairs in the West Bank, Tzur Harel was illegally built on private Palestinian land.

A large number of Border Police personnel, some 70 officers, were dispatched to the outpost for the evacuation due to indications that there would be violent resistance to evacuation efforts.

According to sources familiar with the situation at Tzur Harel, the outpost has been the source of violent nationalistic activity, which led Civil Administration head Brig. Gen. Hisham Ibrahim to conduct a swift operation to remove the outpost that was approved by the “political echelon.”